We took an Uber to the Brooklyn Paramount, conveniently located in downtown Brooklyn and a short ride by train or car from our neighborhood. With preferred balcony tickets, we entered through a special entrance. After a brief 30-minute wait, the doors opened, and we secured great balcony spots, easing my earlier worries about arriving later. Being super short, I needed to be upfront on the balcony; otherwise, there would be no hope for me, and it'd defeat the purpose of spending more money on offered balcony tickets.
The Brooklyn Paramount is a beautiful venue. I wasn't aware of this theater before, but it's newly renovated and reopened its doors for events in 2024. The Brooklyn Paramount features an opulent 1920s interior with Baroque and Rococo design elements, including a stunning high ceiling, gold-painted statues, and decorative designs on the walls and columns incorporating modern touches. Danny also pointed out that it has a sloped floor for optimal viewing. I felt so bougie walking into the venue from our special entrance, as if a metal concert shouldn't be held there.
The evening started with a performance by House of Protection, a duo that seemed strikingly familiar until we realized they were former members of Fever 333. This electronic punk band brought a chaotic energy to the stage, pushing the limits of their performance in an audacious manner. At one point, singer Stephen Harrison dove into the crowd, delivering one of their songs right in the heart of a mosh pit. However, his ambitious attempt to scale the bar did not thrill venue security. LOL. This venue is far too fancy for the rebellious antics he was trying to pull. I genuinely enjoyed their set and will definitely make it a point to explore their discography further.
Following House of Protection was Kumo 99, another electronic duo whose sound is a unique blend of hardcore rave beats infused with Japanese vocals. Their music is not typically what I gravitate towards, and I usually prefer heavy metal in a live setting, but I always remain open to discovering new acts. Kumo 99's set was intriguing; concerts often serve as a gateway to unfamiliar bands, and tonight was no exception. While it may not be the kind of music I would actively seek out, I appreciated their creativity and the energy they brought to the stage.
My stress melted away as Poppy took the stage. It reminded me why all the anxiety was worth it. I almost didn't want to leave the house and surrender to stress, but I will never experience the joys in life if I don't push back. Poppy performed so many bangers from her new album while also including my favorites like "Scary Mask," "Anything Like Me," "I Disagree," and "Concrete." I was thrilled when she included her collaboration with Bad Omens. It was my number-one song of 2024 until I hyper-fixated on Korn again.
I have always loved how Poppy seamlessly weaved pop and metal together on her debut album, showcasing the persona she was meant to embody. Recently, she has leaned more into metal, and I couldn’t be prouder of her. She has become a prominent woman in the metal scene, collaborating with well-known bands like Bad Omens and Knocked Loose. While I miss the experimental nature and stark contrasts of pop and metal on “I Disagree,” “Negative Spaces” is my second favorite album by Poppy. I appreciate her hard-hitting delivery in songs like “They’re All Around Us,” The Cost of Giving Up,” and “New Way Out,” which showcase more metalcore and industrial influences. But she also offers variety with the 80s synth-pop song “Crystalized” and the bubblegum rock track “Push Go,” reminiscent of Britney’s “Don’t Keep Me Waiting.”
The more I reflect on it, the clearer it becomes how flawless this album is. It beautifully complements an exploration of the various genres we have come to expect from Poppy, yet it stands out as her most cohesive work to date. Every song and interlude is perfectly positioned on the album, making it one of those rare masterpieces that I can listen to in its entirety nowadays. One of my favorite tracks from the album, which I wish she had performed, is “Negative Spaces” (very reminiscent of Hole). This song profoundly explores the struggle of confronting our inner turmoil while projecting a smile to the world, concealing our true selves to navigate everyday life. This is something I know all too well.
“I fill my skull with nonsense
(Whoa) live an implicated consequence
(Whoa) and it's all so negative
I'll pretend that it's not happening
(Whoa) I like what I represent
(Whoa) my anger comes at my expense
(Whoa) there's always something to be up against
I'll pretend that it's not happening
To me, to us, to everyone in the world
The gods, The dogs, I'm not impressed, but I
Attest, I say with my whole chest
Every moment's vital
And I'm feeling suicidal, but I smile”
Poppy only played songs from “ I Disagree “ and “ Negative Spaces, “ leaving out tracks from “ Flux “ and “ Zig. “ I was particularly sad not to hear anything from “ Zig “ that embodied a darker pop and industrial sound compared to her other works, and I fell in love with songs like “ Church Outfit,“ “ Knockoff, “ and “ Hard. “ While I got to hear songs from “ Flux “ during her “ Never Find My Place “ tour, I have heard nothing from “ Zig. “ She did a headlining tour to support “ Zig, “ but it never reached New York. At other times, she was on tour with more prominent bands like Avenged Sevenfold and Thirty Seconds to Mars. I know there are mixed feelings about “ Zig, “ but I enjoy this album and would love to hear some of these songs live!
I think I’ve always related to Poppy because she can effortlessly switch between two different personas while remaining herself. I, too, have split personalities. LOL. It’s pretty amazing, actually. I always admire her unique approach to music and her overall aesthetics. She was a remarkable sight to behold on stage. It was a fantastic night—she truly is a queen!
Set List:
1. Have you had enough?
2. BLOODMONEY
3. Sit/Stay
4. V.A.N (Bad Omens cover)
5. The cost of giving up
6. Anything Like Me
7. Crystallized
8. Vital
9. The center’s falling out
10. Scary Mask
11. I Disagree
12. Push go
13. Bite Your Teeth
14. Concrete
15. Surviving on defiance
Encore:
16. They’re all around us
17. New way out
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